Truck



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Filed .Jane 2o, 1921 web. 24, 1925.

Patented F eb.`24, i925.y

UNITED-STATES PATE ARTHUR e. ,LnoNARn lJR., or

ROIS.

Application led .'Vl'une 20, .1921.

' ings.

trucks and more particularly to that type of truck employed for the, moving ofl articles in and around warehouses,

orvbed; and to improve generallyithe con-A struction of devices of thetype specified. These objects I'attain by the construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the drawings and vhereinafter .particularly described. That which I believe be set fortlrin, the claims.

In'the dra-wiugs,

l isla perspective view of a track` Fi in wliich my improvements are embodied;

Fig. v2 is a longitudinal central section of 1 l the truck;

lig 3 is an under side View of the truck; an l C Figsl and 5 are details being sections taken substantiallyon the, lines 4.--4 and 5 5, respectively, ofFig. 3.

Referring to the drawing s,-l0 indicates the platform or bed of fthe truck, which, as

shown, is formed cfa heavy plateof metal,l

and, by reason of the shape into which it is bent, constitutes not only the platform or bed proper,` but the frame. A In other words, by constructing the part l() in the manner about to be described, it is not necessary to provide` theordinary endand side bars as in the usual truck construction. The side portions of this member 10 are bent toform .and the en and a.

This -invention relates to improvements in .for the reception of other lners the plate that forms to be new willj -the truck are indicated byl8,and those `the opposite sigle by 18a, and each set ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION O F ILLI- TRUCK.

seria No. 479,076.

-extending vertical side bars 11, portions'are likewise turned to form end barsy l2. Adjacent to each of the parts 11 'the metal sheetis bent so as to form raised portions or ribs 13 that extendalong each -side of the truck, as clearly shown in Fig. l. These raised-portions or ribs which,

downwardl Vas shown, are inclined from the sides to- .wards'the longitudinal central ortion of the platform,

act not only to. sti en the platform as Ja whole,

but serve two other purposes,-on`e beingto-provide ledffes that will tend to4 prevent Y articles on t e platform from slidingoff, and the other, and possibly, the most important, being to provide spaces parts that will be At each of itslcorthe described-combined platform and frame is cnt away for the reception of corner blocks 14:, which are preferably steel castings. Each corner block, 1s shown as of a height substantially equal to the width of the down-turned members 11 and 12, and integral with each ,block are two-vertical wa'll portions l'and 16 which lie respectively against the inner faces of the side and end platform members 11 and 12,-and are riveted to such last-named members, asclearly shown in Fig. V3. Formed with each corner block 14 is a horizontal piece 1T` lying flush with the upper edges of the Wall portions l5 and 16, and adapted to have rest thereon, as best shown in Figi?, thehorizontal portion ofthe platform 10, and give support thereto, although it is to be understood that other means, to be described hereinafter, are chiefly relied upon as affording the required support for the platform. The outer surfaces of the several corner blocks 14 are Vpreferably round-4 ed, as shown, and the upper surface of each hereinafter pointed out.

will be preferably shaped to conformv to the -marginal incline 13 of the platform.

`Near theupper edge of each of the wall members 15, and projecting inwardly therefrom, is a boss.A .The bosses at one side of' bosses 18-18 are in alinement with each other.V Each boss 184in the construction shown has asocket therein, whereaseach boss'lSa has an opening extending through it, which opening registers" with an opening in the adjacent vertical membervll of the NT oFFIfcE.-

CHICAGO, `ILLINOIs, AssiGNOR'To THR MERCURY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or CHICAGO,

in each pair of "i body portion of the platform, so as combined platform and bosses 18 which, as clearly shown in beneath and in contact wit fur uish support therefor. *These rods are inserted in place by passingthem through the openings in the member 11 of 'the platform, and through the bosses 18LA and into the sockets in the bosses 18, and are each held secured` by a, set screw 19a that passes through the side of the boss 18as clearly shown in Fig. -in which figure the rod 19 there shown is indicated as extending. through its boss 18, and projecting slightly beyond the adjacent down-turned member 11 of the platform. 0f course, if desired,

the boss 18,` instead of. being merely provided with a4 socket as described, might have anopening through it as in the case of the bosslSa-so that the rod 19 may be inserted from either side of the truck, but 1 prefer the construction shown and described. Two other similar rods 20 are employed for giv ing support to the central portion of the platform, and'these rods20 are-'secured in place in the same manner as the rods 19, and

vwhen in place will, like -silch rods 19, lie immediately under and against the horizontal portion of thev metal plate that forms the rod-receiving portion of the platform. To support these Vintermediate rods I rivet to the inner face of each of the downwardlyextending members 11 of the platform two heavy plates 21,.each of which is provided with bosses 22 that correspond to the bosses 18, and bosses 22L thatscorrespond tothe bosses 181. Through each of the bosses 22a is a set screw 28 that acts to hold the rods 20 against accidental removal.

Ateach side of the truck at its forward -portion is a semi-elliptic lspring 24. the

upper leaf of eachof which at its front end is turned around the front rod 19, and at its rear end surrounds the forward one of the rods 20, the connection' of such spring to said rod 20 being by means of a wide loop in the spring,^as shown in Fig. 2, so as to allow -.of the necessary play on such rod as the spring-is compressed under loads imposed' upon the` truck. A similar pair of springs 25 is arranged under the rear portion ofthe platform, and connected in like manner with the rear one of the rods 19 and the other rod 20. 26 indicates a cross-bar preferably an angle iron as'shown-which extends transversely of the truck, and is firmly secured against the under surface of the pair ofsemi-elliptic springs'24, being se'- cured to suchv springs by U-bolts 27, as shown, or in any other -suitable manner. At opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the truck' vand vladjacent its forward end are two caster-wheels, each indicated by 28, each of said caster wheels being mounted in a yoke the stem. ably i:

.earwardlj lies and rests upon the cross-bar 26- and is secured by bolts', or otherwise, to such crossbar. 'Fliese caster wheels are 'of ordinary constructitm, and while the details of the anti-friction bearings and the means for mounting the wheels in their yokes are shown in detaii in Fig. 4, it is not deemed necessary to describe such details, as my invention is not concerned therewith, but, so far as these wheels themselves are concerned, relates tothe manner of their connection with the semi-elliptic springs 24 as already describen.

The rearsupporting Wheels are indicated by 32, and are mounted upon an axle 33 lying beneath the central portions of the rear pair o'f springs 25, which axle is connected directly with such springs through standardsft that are clamped to the springs,- respectively, Aby U-bolts 35 that pass through pltes formed at the upper ends of the stan ar s.

rlhe upward inclinations along the sides of the truck platform that form 'what I have herein termed the ribs 13, are of importance,

bosses that receive the supporting rods 19 and 20' as to permit such rods to lie `directly against the under face of the platform, and

vin that they so accommodate the various Y thus furnish the requisite support to keep such platform from becoming distorted under the weights imposed upon the truck. Furthermore, there is thus provided sufficient space to receive the ends of the several elliptic'springs, and, while allowing perfect freedom of movement of such springs in their usual manner, such springs are restrained from any tendency to shift from proper position. r From the description given-of the manner of inserting the various ro'ds 19 and 20 into Ysupporting position, and securing them, it will be apparent that when necessary to disconnect the parts for repairs or any other purpose, such operation can be performed very quickly, inasmuch as all that is necessary is the removal of the various set screws that are employed at one side of the truck to lock the rods 19 and 20 in place, and thereafter withdraw such rods through the openings in one of the side members 11 of the combined platform and frame. Such lwithdrawal of the rods will permit the liftingoff of the platform member, and thus permit ready access llO to the springs and the wheels that are connected therewith.

vtruck for carrying certain kinds of articles,

and to permit the use of such posts, Iform Laar-,4m

,re'gister with holes38 in the inclined portions 13 of the platform. The truck will be provided at its forward end with any ordinary. draft attachment, such, for example, as that indicated :1t-39.

What I claim as my invention anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A truck comprising in combination a slieet-metal platforin, a plurality of rods beneath the platform adapted to support the same, means for removably `securinv such rods in place, a semi-elliptic spring adjacent each side lof the truck and extending longitudinally' thereof, said springs extending betweenl and connected withtwoof said suportin01 rods and a air of wheels connected es s ,t

vwith said springs. Y 2. A truck comprising in combination a sheet-metal platform havingraised portions `atvopposite sides, a plurality of rods .bef ne'ath the platform adapted to support the sanie,supporting means located below saidv raised .portions of the platform for receiving end-portions of said rods, a semi-elliptic spring adjacent each side ofthe truck and extending longitudinally thereof, the ends (of` said springs extending between `and being connected with two Vof said supporting rods at points beneath said raised portions of the platform, and a pair of wheels connected with-said springs.n v

3. A tiiicl{-coinprising in combination a sheet-metal platform having downwardlyextending side members, rod-supporting means on the inner faces of said'side members, ro'ds arranged beneath the platform to receive the weight of the, platform and loads imposed thereon, the end portions of said rods engaging said rod-supportingencens, a semi-elliptic spring adjacent each side of the truck and extending longitudinally thereof, said springs extending-between and being connected with two of-said rods, and

a pair-of wheels connected with said'springs. 4. A truck comprising. in combination a extending side members,

sheet-metal platform having downwardlyrod-supporting means on the inner faces of said side meinbers, rods larranged. beneath the platform to` receivethe weight of the platform and l loads imposed thereon, the end portionsof said rods engaging said rod-supporting means, a semi-elliptic spring adjacent each side of the truck and extending longitudinal- -ly thereof, said springs. extending betweeny and beingconnected with two of said rods, means for detachably connecting said rods with said rod-supporting ineans, and a pair of wheelsconnected with said springs,

5. A truck comprising in combination a sheet-metal platform having downwardly extending" side members and raised portions v'to receive the weight thereof and of thel loadsimposed thereon, the end portions of said rods engaging said rod-supporting means, a semi-elliptic spring adjacent each sidewf the truck and extending longitudinally thereof and connected with two of said rods at points beneath saidraised por tions of the platform, 4and apair ofl wheels connected with said springs.

6. A truck comprising in combination a' sheet-metal platform having extending side members, bers having openingstherethrough, rodsupporting means carried by thev opposite :member and in alinemeiit with' said openings, rods extending ,through said openings and into said alinedl supporting means on the opposite side member, said rods being adapted to bear against the under face-of the platform, means for. removably locking said rods, iii place, semi-elliptic springs adjacent thesides of the truck and extending longitudinally thereof, saidv springs extendingbetween and being connected with vtwo-of said rods, and a pair of wheels ,gonnected with said springs.

i'. A truck comprising in combination a sheet-metal platform having downwardly-' extending side and end members, blocks at the corners of the platform connecting said side and end members together, ay plate at; tached to the'inner face of each of said side members intermediate of the ends thereof, rod-attaching means carried by each of said blocks and plates, rods extending ltransdownwardlyversely ofthe truck and in contact with the under surface ofthe platform, said rodsbeing in engagen'ientwith the said rod-attaching means of the corner blocks and plate, respectively, 'two pairs of semi-elliptic- 'springs' adjacent the forwardfand rearends of the trucks, said springs being connecte-d with end portions of certain of said platform-supporting rods, andwheels connected with each pair of springs.

8. A truck comprising incoinbinatioii a sheet-metal platform having-downwardly'- exteiiding side and end. mem-bers, blocks at the corners of the platform connecting said side and end members together, a plate Fattached' to the inner face of each of said .side members intermediateof the ends thereof, rod-attaching means carried by4 each of said blocks and said plates, a rod extending between-the, said attaching means on the forward' corner blocks, another rod extending between the said attaching means on the rear corner blocks, two rodsextending be f tween the said attaching means on the inQ rtermediatet plates, ali of said rods being one of said mem-v4 iti() adapted to bear Aagainst lthe under face of the platform, means for removably locking i said rodsjin place, a pair of semi-elliptic springs adjacent the sidesof the truck and extending longitudinally, thereof, said springs extending between and beingconnected, with the forward'rod and one of the intermediate rods, another similar pairof springs connected with the rear rod andthe other intermediate rod, and a pair-of wheels connected with each of said pairs of springs. 9.' A truck' comprising in combination a sheet-metal platform having downwardly-extending side and end members, blocks at the corners of the platform connecting said side and end members together, a plate attached to the inner face of each of said side membersintermedia'te of the ends thereof, rodattaching means carried by each of said j tween the said attaching means on the 'foif blocks. and said plates, a rod extending beward corner blocks, 'another rod extending between the said attaching means onl the rear corner blocks, two rods extending between the .said attaching means on the in- 'termediate plates, all. of said rods being adapted to bear against tlie under face of the-platform, means lfor removably locking said rods in place, acair of semi-elliptic springs adjacent the si es ofthe truck and extending longitudinally' thereof, said springs" extending 4between and being connected -with the' forw-ard'rod and one o f the .intermediatefroda anotherA similar pair of springs -conn'ctedwith' the rear rod and the otherfintermediaterod, a bar connected with thc-forward pair of springs, acasterwheeljcarried by said bai,`an axle connected i with therearpair of springs, and a pair of wheels mounted on said axle. y

10. A truck comprising in combination a sheet-metal platformhaving raised portions extending along each side portion thereof and having'downwardly-extending members depending from said raised portions, a plurality `ofrods lying beneath the platform and adapted to support the same, rod-holding means located beneath said raised portions, two semi-elliptic springs adjacentveach wall members beneath said ,inclined portions, and a pair of wheels connected with each pair ofsprings.

12. A truck comprising a platform having raised portions at its sidesand members depending from said raised portions, two

semi-elliptic springs alongside of each of said depending members beneath said raised portions ofthe platform, a cross-bar extending between the forward pair of said springs, a caster-wheel connected with said cross-bar, an axle connected with said other pair of springs, and a pair of v'wheels mounted on said axle.

13. Ina truck, the combination with a combined platform and frame comprising a plate having each of its marginal portions inclined 'upwardly' from itsmain or body portion and then downwardly turned to provide a V,substantially-vertical wall member, of rodsextending across the truck for sup'- porting the main or body portion of such plate,and means carried by the said vertical wall members for engagement by saidl rods.

, 'ARTHUR G. LEONARD, .I R. 

